Health and Safety policy
Man With Van Southfields Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Southfields is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and arrangements that guide our day to day operations, with a focus on safe moving, handling and transport of goods.
Policy Statement
Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property arising from our removal services. We will manage health and safety risks in a systematic way, complying with applicable health and safety laws and recognised best practice for the removals and transport sector. Management and staff share responsibility for maintaining high standards of safety at all times.
This policy applies to all activities undertaken by Man with Van Southfields, including domestic removals, office moves, collection and delivery services, loading and unloading operations and driving between locations.
Responsibilities and Management Commitment
Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the business owner and management team, who will:
Ensure suitable resources are made available for implementing this policy, including appropriate equipment, training and supervision.
Set clear health and safety objectives and review performance regularly.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for our removal and transport activities and that the identified control measures are implemented and maintained.
Promote a positive safety culture where all workers are encouraged to report hazards, near misses and incidents so that improvements can be made.
Employees, contractors and any persons working on behalf of Man with Van Southfields are required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow company procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by management.
Use equipment correctly, including any personal protective equipment supplied.
Report accidents, incidents, hazards and defective equipment as soon as possible.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will identify and assess the risks associated with our removal operations, including manual handling, working in and around vehicles, moving large or heavy items, and working at customer premises. Risk assessments will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to the nature of our work or equipment.
From these assessments, we will establish safe systems of work that cover, as a minimum:
Methods for lifting, carrying and moving items safely, with team lifting used for heavy or awkward loads.
Use of trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other equipment to reduce manual handling strain and protect goods and property.
Safe loading and unloading procedures to prevent items shifting during transit or falling during handling.
Procedures for working safely in confined spaces such as stairwells and narrow corridors.
Manual Handling and Ergonomics
Manual handling is a core part of our removal service, so particular attention is given to minimising the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. We will:
Provide training on correct lifting and carrying techniques, including posture, load assessment and team coordination.
Encourage workers to plan each lift, checking routes, obstacles and weight before handling items.
Provide suitable handling aids such as sack trucks, piano dollies, furniture sliders and moving straps where appropriate.
Discourage lone handling of particularly heavy or bulky items and require team lifts when needed.
Vehicle and Driver Safety
Our vehicles are essential to our operations and will be managed with safety as the priority. We will:
Ensure that vans and associated equipment are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in a roadworthy condition.
Check that loads are distributed and secured correctly to prevent movement, overloading or instability.
Require all drivers to hold the appropriate licences and to observe traffic laws, speed limits and parking rules.
Discourage the use of mobile phones and other distractions while driving, other than approved hands free systems when safe to do so.
Plan routes and schedules so far as practicable to reduce fatigue and allow sufficient time for safe driving.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise our responsibility to work safely in and around customer homes, offices and shared spaces. To protect customers, visitors and the wider public, we will:
Assess access routes, stairways, lifts and entrances before starting work and agree any necessary precautions with the customer.
Use warning signs or verbal warnings where there is a risk of tripping, slipping or collision during loading and unloading.
Keep work areas as tidy as reasonably practicable, minimising trailing straps, loose packing materials and other trip hazards.
Take care to protect property, fixtures and fittings by using blankets, covers and corner protectors where appropriate.
Training, Information and Supervision
We will provide information, instruction and training appropriate to the tasks undertaken by our team. This may include:
Induction training on company health and safety rules and emergency procedures.
Manual handling, safe lifting and load securing techniques.
Use of vehicle access ramps, tail lifts and handling equipment where fitted.
Safe working at customer sites, including respect for residents, neighbours and shared areas.
Supervision will be provided as necessary, particularly for new or inexperienced workers, until they are competent to work safely without direct oversight.
Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Maintenance
All equipment used in connection with our removal services will be chosen, used and maintained with safety in mind. We will:
Provide suitable tools and equipment, such as trolleys, lifting straps, gloves and protective covers.
Inspect equipment regularly and remove from service any items that are damaged or defective until repaired or replaced.
Provide personal protective equipment where the risk assessment identifies a need, and ensure that it is used and looked after properly.
Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work related ill health will be recorded and, where necessary, investigated so that we can identify root causes and put in place corrective actions. We will:
Encourage prompt reporting of any incident, however minor it may appear at the time.
Ensure that first aid provisions are available during work activities.
Have procedures in place for responding to vehicle breakdowns, road traffic incidents and emergencies at customer premises.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
We are committed to continuous improvement in our health and safety performance. This policy and the associated procedures will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective, relevant and aligned with legal requirements and industry good practice.
Feedback from employees and customers about health and safety matters is welcomed and will be taken into account in future improvements to our removal services.
This Health and Safety policy is communicated to all who work for Man with Van Southfields and is made available to customers and interested parties on request.
